The ruins of a local political headquarters in Jhenaidah have become the centre of an intense social media storm following a clandestine act of political defiance. Portraits of the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the recently ousted Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, were discovered adorned with floral garlands within the charred remains of the local Awami League office.
A Midnight Act of Commemoration
The incident occurred during the early hours of 21 February 2026, coinciding with the solemn observations of Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day. Members of the Awami League and its various affiliate organisations claimed responsibility for the act, circulating photographs of the garlanded portraits across Facebook and other social media platforms on Saturday evening.
Amio Majumdar, the former president of the Jhenaidah Municipal Volunteer League (Swechasebak League), confirmed that a group of activists gathered at the derelict site near the Shilpakala Academy. Under the cover of darkness, they installed the images and paid their respects, marking the first significant public—albeit brief—reappearance of these portraits since the political upheaval of late 2024.
The Site of Transformation
The office in question serves as a stark physical reminder of the violent transition of power in Bangladesh. Once a bustling hub of political activity, the building was systematically dismantled during the “Monsoon Revolution” of August 2024.
| Timeline of Events | Impact on Jhenaidah Party Office |
| 4 August 2024 | Building set ablaze by protesters during the mass uprising. |
| 5 August 2024 | Extensive looting follows the fall of the government; furniture and air conditioning units removed. |
| Late 2024 | Doors and windows stripped by vandals; site becomes a derelict wasteland. |
| 21 February 2026 | Activists return to install portraits and floral tributes in secret. |
From Hub to Wasteland
In the wake of the government’s collapse, the facility suffered total desecration. Beyond the initial arson, local reports indicate that the premises were stripped of every valuable asset, down to the window frames. Since then, the site has stood as a hollowed-out shell, with residents noting that the abandoned building had frequently been subjected to public nuisance and neglect.
The decision by party loyalists to return to this specific site carries heavy symbolic weight. By placing garlands in a building that had been reduced to rubble, activists are signaling a quiet persistence despite the current political climate. However, the move has sparked mixed reactions online, with some viewing it as an act of loyalty and others as a provocative gesture amidst a fragile national peace.
The local administration has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, though the images continue to provoke heated debate among the city’s residents.